1.1.1.1.1 Hi!! I'm back!! ::grins:: how to make you all wait in suspense…
I'll figure it out, I always do. Here are the next 3 chaps, the first one
is long, but I added the last 2 cause I was gone so long… and for
cliffhanger reasons. Oh I'm so evil…
Oh rite and the little thing with Sage was added to my story by my friend… she's such a better writer than me… ok now she's gunna kill me for saying that… oh just read!
1.1.1.1.2
1.1.1.1.3 Explanations Part 3
Qui-Gon sprinted down the alley and around the corner at a fast run. He skidded to a halt to see Obi-Wan putting away his lightsaber and the sound of sizzling metal rang in his ears.
"Where is Sandy and Ki-Dra?" Bailee asked.
"In their house." Obi-Wan said pointing to a door across from him. "Sandy said to come in as soon as we felt it safe."
Qui-Gon nodded a gestured to the door. Walking behind Obi-Wan into a small foyer a set of step headed up to the main part of the house and a door to their left let to what looked like a cellar. When Bailee came in behind them they headed up stairs.
In the dim light of Sandy's house Qui-Gon could see the fatigue on his Padawan's face. Sandy must have also because while getting a short tour of the three-story place she showed them where they would be sleeping. Qui- Gon suggested Obi-Wan stay and rest and to his surprise Obi-Wan didn't argue.
The Master shook his head half in amusement and half in worry before turning to Bailee who was standing in the kitchen leaning up against the table. Ki-Dra was sitting on the table next to her while Sandy had straddled a chair backwards and was resting her chin on the back of it.
"Bailee." Qui-Gon said. "Are you sure you don't know what Brice wants with you?"
She shook her head. "It's like I said before. I don't know what information he wants or *would* want."
After a long silence Sandy's eyes widened. "You don't think it has anything to do with the CALSI project do you?"
"But I didn't have anything to do with that." Bailee said pulling up a chair for herself.
"How would he know that?" Sandy pointed out
Ki-Dra was looking between Sandy, Bailee, and everyone and every once in a while, glancing at Qui-Gon with a very confused look on his face. "What's a CAL- CALSI?" he asked curiously trying to pronounce the projects name correctly.
"Ki-Dra why don't you go get ready for bed." Sandy suggested. "I'll be in, in a minute to tuck you in." Ki-Dra nodded and thundered off down the hall to his room and shut the door to get ready.
"I think the little tyke stole my question." Qui-Gon chuckled.
Sandy sighed. "Where to start."
Qui-Gon sat down. "The beginning is always the best."
"OK here goes." She said with a sigh. She traced her thoughts before starting. "Well the beginning started about four years ago when project AVIS became known to the public and to the people here on Avalin. Project AVIS is the underwater city in our ocean. Now, a bunch of us didn't like the thought of an underwater city in our *only* ocean. It could kill the wildlife and since we live on a symbiosis environment with the ocean it could destroy the planet. So we formed a committee, ok, a rebel alliance group against the project. We decided to carry out 'investigations' on the city to make sure the government was telling the truth. The government promised the people certain things about the project and yet they wouldn't let us investigate. So obviously we got suspicious and took things into out own hands. That didn't go over to well with the government when they found out."
"Ya think?" Bailee interrupted rolling her eyes.
"Anyway." Sandy pressed on. "So they attempted to shut us down. Not just what we were doing, but *us*."
Qui-Gon rested his head on a fist and quirked an eyebrow. "OK, but you said attempted…" he waited for her to continue.
Sandy and Bailee nodded together. Sandy started again. "Well we got into their main system and we realized the mining half of the city wasn't keeping their promise at all. We decided to find a way to basically destroy the project before it could do any more harm to our planet. In order to do so we had to get the systematic file for the project. Once we got into the initial main frame we found out that the file was a shadow file. Not the real one. Our friend Tra-Kep said she knew the real systematic was on a disk with the shadow file just hidden. She would probably be able to find a code and hack into the real file. Some of us in the group agreed to this and some didn't. So our group split in two. The people who agreed started the CALSI project. CALSI stands for Correction Above Legislature Systematic Intelligence. Bailee here didn't want anything to do with it, so she left from the beginning." She stopped and looked back at Bailee who in turn leaned up against the table and shrugged. Sandy turned back to Qui- Gon. "Well, Tra-Kep's dad was against her idea and forced her to drop out of the project. We kept working on it while the other group planned a raid on the city. That didn't go over too well. Many were captured and a few of the leaders were executed. Tra-Kep got away, but no one knows what really happened to her."
"Actually…" Bailee said softly. "I saw Tra-Kep before…" She cut off and looked down tears brimming in her eyes.
"She died." Sandy finished for her.
Bailee sighed. "My turn to explain. I had gotten a call on my comlink from her dad saying she was dying from an injury she got during the raid and wanted to see me. I went to see her and she died during my visit."
Sandy breathed in a staggered breath trying not to cry. "Well that explains a lot."
"No it doesn't. It's got nothing to do with what Brice wants with me."
Qui-Gon didn't want to interrupt, but he had a few questions. "Was Brice a part of the project?"
"Yes." Bailee said. "After a while CALSI seemed to be going nowhere so it shut down. He joined Sandy, me and another friend Sora in a mini rebel group that basically protested in anyway possible against the mining part of the City. But like I said the other day he betrayed us. Since then we've basically given up hope of ever shutting down the project."
After a long pause Sandy stood up. "I had better say good night to Ki- Dra." She went into the hall and to the boy's room.
Qui-Gon studied Bailee. She looked exhausted, but she was leaving something out. He was convinced she hadn't told them everything. But what did she fail to mention to them?
Bailee stood up and swayed a bit. "Almost three days without sleep is to much. I don't know how you Jedi go for so long, but I'm going to sleep." She walked to her room and noiselessly shut her door.
Sandy came back in and shook her head while sitting back down at the table across from Qui-Gon. "She's leaving something out. And the problem is she's so stubborn it's going to be impossible to find out whatever it is."
"We'll find a way to figure it out." Qui-Gin reassured her.
"We might not even have to do that." Sandy said. She but her lip wondering if she should go on. "I've got a feeling she might *have* to tell us."
The next morning Qui-Gon followed Ki-Dra and Sandy down to the beach by their house. Obi-Wan was at his side. Bailee had stayed back at Sandy's because she was still tired. They had already been walking quite a distance when Ki-Dra stopped and Qui-Gon picked up his pace to reach they boy.
"He went in there." Ki-Dra said pointing to a cliff up ahead of them. The cliff was several meters high and had a huge crack in it down the center.
Sandy gasped. "How could that be?! How would he know about this?"
Obi-Wan came up in front of them. "Is that something important?" He asked studying the cliff face.
"Yes." Sandy walked swiftly up to the cliff with everyone following close behind. She inspected the crack, which was big enough for almost any person to fit through. "It's a secret entrance to the mining section of the city. All other entrances are through the water. You follow the crack to about halfway into the cliff and there is a turbolift that will take you to the section there. Only the people mining and a few people working on the CALSI project knew about this. I don't get how…" She shook her head. "I hate to *think* of how he found out about this."
"Qui-Gon," Came Obi-Wan's worried voice. "Wouldn't that mean he could be around here?"
"Possibly Padawan. We must be careful." Qui-Gon studied the area. Although it looked like nothing was around, there was tension in the air. He turned to Sandy and Ki-Dra. "Obi-Wan and I should have a look in there quickly. We may need to use this entrance in the future."
"You'll have to make it quick." She turned and looked up towards the sun. "High tide is all ready coming in and the crack will fill with water."
Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan and gestured to the crack. "You first."
While walking through the crack Qui-Gon never took his eyes off his Padawan. Obi-Wan's face of determination was like nothing he had ever seen. He really cared for Z and Qui-Gon knew the young boy would do anything to make sure she was safe.
About half way through the crack Qui-Gon heard water. "Obi-Wan," Qui- Gon called as he felt water hit his boot. "We've got to get back before high tide comes in."
He heard a sigh as the reply, but Obi-Wan turned around. They made their way back and when the sunlight came into view and warmed Qui- Gon's cold cheeks Qui-Gon turned toward a frowning Obi-Wan.
"We'll go back as soon as low tide comes." Qui-Gon reassured him.
"But we were so close." Obi-Wan said. He turned around and stared back into the cliff. "Master, Z is in there. I could feel her. Garmandi has her in the city."
Qui-Gon put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "We won't leave without her. You have my word on it."
*****
Obi-Wan watched Ki-Dra jump into a wave and then peered out over the ocean. Zae-Non was down there somewhere. If only Qui-Gon had gone a little further! He could have gotten to her. Obi-Wan felt anger well up inside of him. He took a deep breath and let it out to the warm afternoon air.
Words could not describe how he felt. Obi-Wan could barely understand his feelings himself. He knew it was how Qui-Gon must have felt when Tahl was missing. Of course his actions were out of love. Obi-Wan didn't know what he had with Z. From the first time she smiled at him there was a bond between them…
*Something in the Force*
Obi-Wan went over to his Master, but stopped a couple steps in front of him.
Instinctively Obi-Wan whirled around just in time to deflect blaster fire coming from a probe droid behind him and sliced it in half. Obi- Wan heard Qui-Gon ignite his lightsaber and he too brought a droid slamming to the sand.
Obi-Wan saw the last droid turning towards Ki-Dra. Obi-Wan deflected the blaster fire from the terrified kid as Qui-Gon got him out of the way.
The droid didn't pick up Qui-Gon's fast movement to get Ki-Dra away from harm and was now scanning the area for the missing boy. Obi-Wan flipped over the droid and in mid-air sliced it in half. After landing he took off after Sandy, Qui-Gon and Ki-Dra who had sprinted off down the beach.
Once they reached Sandy's house Qui-Gon made sure no droids had followed them. Sandy went inside and went up the stairs to the main floor.
"Bailee." She called out. "You'll never guess-" She stopped at the top step and put down Ki-Dra, who she was carrying. "Bails?" She leapt up onto the floor and dashed around the corner to Bailee's room.
Obi-Wan dashed up the steps after Qui-Gon and looked around the destroyed room. Bailee's blaster lay in the middle of the room. In the kitchen, the table was broken and a chair was shattered in little pieces all over the floor.
Sandy came in and sat in one of the remaining chairs. "Brice has her! I can't believe this!"
"Obi-Wan looked around. "Are you sure it's Brice?"
Sandy reached out a placed a piece of paper in his hand.
Sandy-
It's been a while hasn't it. Hope little Ki-Dra is ok. Sorry about the mess and Bailee is with me, but do yourself a favor and don't send those two Jedi with you after her. It wouldn't be safe for yourself and Ki-Dra. And Bailee.
Brice
Qui-Gon looked around. "There is no doubt there was a fight here of some sort that took place. Is there any way out of the house besides downstairs?"
Sandy nodded. "There's a trap door in the attic leading to the roof." She motioned for them to follow her.
On the roof Obi-Wan scanned the area. "We should check for footprints." He looked up towards the sun. "If there's nothing here, then he must have left by the downstairs."
After an hour of searching and finding nothing Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon went outside in the front to check for clues there, while Sandy stayed inside and started to clean her ripped up house.
Obi-Wan looked at every pebble and grain of sand. He cut the ground into sections to look at, just like he was taught at the Temple. After about two hours Obi-Wan stumbled across something. "Master." Obi-Wan called. "Over here." He pointed to two scorch marks in the sand. "Here and here. They indicate that whoever it was, was heading towards the ocean."
"Very good Padawan." Qui-Gon admonished. "Well, we now know Brice since it obviously was him is down in the city most likely. Sandy said the next low tide is later tonight. We shall go down there then."
Just then Sandy came out into the alley. "You two hungry?"
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes." Obi-Wan said. He was starving.
Before going in, Obi-Wan turned towards the ocean. A light breeze ruffled his hair as he heard the distant sound of the waves crashing onto the sand.
Tonight he'd see Z again. And he wasn't leaving without her.
2 Brief Thoughts
The Jedi stood in the night, staring out across the ocean. She could barely see the light of the distant underwater city. Waves gently swirled around her steel tipped boots and shifted the sand beneath them. An ocean made her eye water and a sent a chill up her spine. Sage pulled her cloak tight around her.
While the other Jedi fitfully slept, she had slipped away. Draw to the ocean that separated her from her future apprentice. Somewhere out there Zae-Non was a prisoner of an insane Jedi Master gone rouge. A fate Sage wouldn't wish on her worst enemies.
It didn't seem possible that this could have happened. Z had just been returned with after all these years. Without Mik, thanks to Garmandi.
Sage bowed her head. Absently she studied her boots, steel tip boots at that. A faint grin crossed her face as she recalled how Mik had constantly teased her about them. Her mind continued to drift back.
Back sixteen years when she and Mik were still together. Together and close. Like Obi-Wan and Z.
She closed her eyes. She knew how helpless Obi-Wan felt. She had been on the next rescue team when Mik requested… no… demanded that no more teams be sent. She would not let Obi-Wan go through what she had. He would not feel that sence of loss.
She reached out across the vast space with the Force. Despretly searching. She could feel the fringed of a bond struggling to form, but it wasn't totally there. Wasn't nearly strong enough.
Sage turned her back on the rushing waves and began to walk back to Sandy's house. She had to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow they would get Z.
2.1.1.1.1 Extra Help
"So now you believe Brice has Bailee." Mace's voice drifted through Qui- Gon's comlink. Qui-Gon had told him everything about what had happened since they arrived on Avalin. "I agree with you Qui-Gon. There may very well be more than we know."
"Obi-Wan believes Ona brought Zae-Non here for a reason. I believe he is right and that her bringing Z here has something to do with Ona's other job dealing with Bailee."
There was a long pause on the opposite end before Mace spoke. "There is much more to this and if all you are saying is true this mission may become dangerous. I know you will not favor this Qui-Gon, but I'm sending another knight to Avalin to help you and Obi-Wan."
Qui-Gon shook his head. "Mace, I really don't think that is necessary."
"It's too late. She's already there."
Qui-Gon groaned inside.
*So much for stopping them before they leave.*
Qui-Gon let out a deliberate sigh. "*She* is?"
"Yes, she should be arriving in Brez soon. She'll meet you on the beach and I expect you to inform her of everything you have just told me."
"I will." With a final sigh Qui-Gon cut the transmission. Why did Mace think they needed help? They could handle this. There was a reason Mace was sending her and Qui-Gon would find out sooner or later.
He got off the roof where he had called Mace from and went down into where Sandy, Obi-Wan and Ki-Dra were.
Sandy leaned up against the wall in thought, as Obi-Wan was walking around the room with Ki-Dra hanging off his neck. Obi-Wan's red face turned toward Qui-Gon as he entered.
"Obi-Wan I need to talk with you for a second." Obi-Wan put down Ki-Dra and took a deep breath of air. Apparently the boy had been choking him somewhat. He walked over massaging his neck. Qui-Gon told him about his conversation with Mace.
"So you're going to meet her?" He asked looking down at Ki-Dra who wanted another piggy-back ride.
"Yes, I'll be back in a little while." Qui-Gon started down the stairs.
Obi-Wan called down to him. "Do you even know who it is?"
Qui-Gon didn't turn around, but shook his head. "I'll be finding out shortly."
~~~
"I thought you'd come and meet me." Came a familiar voice from behind Qui- Gon.
He opened his eyes and got off the rock he was sitting on. He had been meditating and had completely lost track of time. He hadn't even noticed the sun had gone down.
"Why do you say that?" He responded. "You didn't *know* I would? I'd expect better from you Sage."
"I may not be able to see your face, but I know you're smirking." She warned.
Qui-Gon walked up next to her and they turned towards the small town behind them. They didn't go three step when simultaneously they spun around and brought their lightsabers down onto a probe droid behind them.
"What was that all about?" Sage said clipping her saber back onto her belt.
Qui-Gon sighed. "Better get used to that. Garmandi doesn't want to miss a thing we're doing."
As they walked towards Sandy's, Qui-Gon explained everything to Sage from Ki-Dra to the CALSI project to Obi-Wan's hypothesis.
After he finished she stared out in front of her.
"You've got a question." She said.
"How do you know I've got a question?" Qui-Gon asked. She turned towards him and her gaze made him give in. "Alright. Mace sent you here for a reason." She nodded. "He didn't quite explain that."
It wasn't a question, but Sage got the point.
"Well if I'm to take Zae-Non as my Padawan I'd like her to be alive wouldn't I?" She smiled. "When I was watching her the other day in the different activities I saw much more than her great skill. I saw her strong will, her persistence, and most of all, her determination to show her best."
The two didn't talk until they reached Sandy's. Outside the door Sage turned to Qui-Gon. "My turn to ask a question. How is Obi-Wan taking all this?"
Qui-Gon reached to open the door and froze. "He's strong."
Sage smiled and went in. "I pay more attention than people think. I saw what the two have."
He sighed, "I just hope he doesn't have to go through what I did."
Sage gesture for Qui-Gon to go up the stairs first and put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get Z back tonight." She said firmly.
Sandy sat in a chair while Obi-Wan was still in the middle of the room with Ki-Dra. Sandy leapt up as she saw Qui-Gon come up the stairs. "I'm so glad you're back! Obi-Wan saw another one of those probe droids go by the window."
Qui-Gon looked out past Sandy to Obi-Wan. "We won't have to worry about that one." He continued into the room and Sage followed. "Obi-Wan, Sandy this is Sage. She'll be going with us tonight."
Obi-Wan bowed as he recognized Sage as one of the two Master who had watched Z in all her events.
"Speaking of going," Sandy said. "You had better leave if you're going to beat low tide. It comes and leaves quickly."
*****
Obi-Wan shivered in the cool night breeze. All that could be heard were the crashing waves and the sound of the three Jedi's feet padding softly against the sand. No one spoke as there was an unease in the air and everyone was on high alert.
Garmandi was near.
Obi-Wan peered out in front of him. As the cliff side came into view so did Garmandi. He stood in fighting stance, lightsaber drawn waiting for the three Jedi.
"Obi-Wan you go with Sage after Garmandi and I'll catch up with you."
Obi-Wan nodded and jogged up next to Sage. They ignited their lightsabers and made their way towards the Master standing before them. To Obi-Wan's surprise Garmandi turned around and charged towards the cliff. He Force leapt up onto the top of the high cliff.
Obi-Wan stopped. "I can't make that." He said exasperatedly.
Sage skidded to a stop next to him. "Yes you can." She gave him a small smile.
Obi-Wan stepped back a few feet and sprinted towards the cliff as fast as he could go. He gathered the Force around him and leapt. He felt an extra push a he flew upwards. Sage was pushing him up the cliff face.
Obi-Wan landed and stared out at Garmandi. Sage landed next to him and made her way towards him. Obi-Wan followed, but before he new it he found himself embraced in an all to familiar notion of darkness.
As Obi-Wan was falling towards the water hundreds of meters below he blanketed himself in the Force to slow his decent. The impact to the water would hurt him…
Or kill him if he didn't slow down enough...
I luv being evil. It's definitely something I do very well. Don't worry I wont make ya wait a week… (see I can be nice… at times) PLEASE REVIEW!!! U know how I feel bout that…
Peace Out
Oh rite and the little thing with Sage was added to my story by my friend… she's such a better writer than me… ok now she's gunna kill me for saying that… oh just read!
1.1.1.1.2
1.1.1.1.3 Explanations Part 3
Qui-Gon sprinted down the alley and around the corner at a fast run. He skidded to a halt to see Obi-Wan putting away his lightsaber and the sound of sizzling metal rang in his ears.
"Where is Sandy and Ki-Dra?" Bailee asked.
"In their house." Obi-Wan said pointing to a door across from him. "Sandy said to come in as soon as we felt it safe."
Qui-Gon nodded a gestured to the door. Walking behind Obi-Wan into a small foyer a set of step headed up to the main part of the house and a door to their left let to what looked like a cellar. When Bailee came in behind them they headed up stairs.
In the dim light of Sandy's house Qui-Gon could see the fatigue on his Padawan's face. Sandy must have also because while getting a short tour of the three-story place she showed them where they would be sleeping. Qui- Gon suggested Obi-Wan stay and rest and to his surprise Obi-Wan didn't argue.
The Master shook his head half in amusement and half in worry before turning to Bailee who was standing in the kitchen leaning up against the table. Ki-Dra was sitting on the table next to her while Sandy had straddled a chair backwards and was resting her chin on the back of it.
"Bailee." Qui-Gon said. "Are you sure you don't know what Brice wants with you?"
She shook her head. "It's like I said before. I don't know what information he wants or *would* want."
After a long silence Sandy's eyes widened. "You don't think it has anything to do with the CALSI project do you?"
"But I didn't have anything to do with that." Bailee said pulling up a chair for herself.
"How would he know that?" Sandy pointed out
Ki-Dra was looking between Sandy, Bailee, and everyone and every once in a while, glancing at Qui-Gon with a very confused look on his face. "What's a CAL- CALSI?" he asked curiously trying to pronounce the projects name correctly.
"Ki-Dra why don't you go get ready for bed." Sandy suggested. "I'll be in, in a minute to tuck you in." Ki-Dra nodded and thundered off down the hall to his room and shut the door to get ready.
"I think the little tyke stole my question." Qui-Gon chuckled.
Sandy sighed. "Where to start."
Qui-Gon sat down. "The beginning is always the best."
"OK here goes." She said with a sigh. She traced her thoughts before starting. "Well the beginning started about four years ago when project AVIS became known to the public and to the people here on Avalin. Project AVIS is the underwater city in our ocean. Now, a bunch of us didn't like the thought of an underwater city in our *only* ocean. It could kill the wildlife and since we live on a symbiosis environment with the ocean it could destroy the planet. So we formed a committee, ok, a rebel alliance group against the project. We decided to carry out 'investigations' on the city to make sure the government was telling the truth. The government promised the people certain things about the project and yet they wouldn't let us investigate. So obviously we got suspicious and took things into out own hands. That didn't go over to well with the government when they found out."
"Ya think?" Bailee interrupted rolling her eyes.
"Anyway." Sandy pressed on. "So they attempted to shut us down. Not just what we were doing, but *us*."
Qui-Gon rested his head on a fist and quirked an eyebrow. "OK, but you said attempted…" he waited for her to continue.
Sandy and Bailee nodded together. Sandy started again. "Well we got into their main system and we realized the mining half of the city wasn't keeping their promise at all. We decided to find a way to basically destroy the project before it could do any more harm to our planet. In order to do so we had to get the systematic file for the project. Once we got into the initial main frame we found out that the file was a shadow file. Not the real one. Our friend Tra-Kep said she knew the real systematic was on a disk with the shadow file just hidden. She would probably be able to find a code and hack into the real file. Some of us in the group agreed to this and some didn't. So our group split in two. The people who agreed started the CALSI project. CALSI stands for Correction Above Legislature Systematic Intelligence. Bailee here didn't want anything to do with it, so she left from the beginning." She stopped and looked back at Bailee who in turn leaned up against the table and shrugged. Sandy turned back to Qui- Gon. "Well, Tra-Kep's dad was against her idea and forced her to drop out of the project. We kept working on it while the other group planned a raid on the city. That didn't go over too well. Many were captured and a few of the leaders were executed. Tra-Kep got away, but no one knows what really happened to her."
"Actually…" Bailee said softly. "I saw Tra-Kep before…" She cut off and looked down tears brimming in her eyes.
"She died." Sandy finished for her.
Bailee sighed. "My turn to explain. I had gotten a call on my comlink from her dad saying she was dying from an injury she got during the raid and wanted to see me. I went to see her and she died during my visit."
Sandy breathed in a staggered breath trying not to cry. "Well that explains a lot."
"No it doesn't. It's got nothing to do with what Brice wants with me."
Qui-Gon didn't want to interrupt, but he had a few questions. "Was Brice a part of the project?"
"Yes." Bailee said. "After a while CALSI seemed to be going nowhere so it shut down. He joined Sandy, me and another friend Sora in a mini rebel group that basically protested in anyway possible against the mining part of the City. But like I said the other day he betrayed us. Since then we've basically given up hope of ever shutting down the project."
After a long pause Sandy stood up. "I had better say good night to Ki- Dra." She went into the hall and to the boy's room.
Qui-Gon studied Bailee. She looked exhausted, but she was leaving something out. He was convinced she hadn't told them everything. But what did she fail to mention to them?
Bailee stood up and swayed a bit. "Almost three days without sleep is to much. I don't know how you Jedi go for so long, but I'm going to sleep." She walked to her room and noiselessly shut her door.
Sandy came back in and shook her head while sitting back down at the table across from Qui-Gon. "She's leaving something out. And the problem is she's so stubborn it's going to be impossible to find out whatever it is."
"We'll find a way to figure it out." Qui-Gin reassured her.
"We might not even have to do that." Sandy said. She but her lip wondering if she should go on. "I've got a feeling she might *have* to tell us."
The next morning Qui-Gon followed Ki-Dra and Sandy down to the beach by their house. Obi-Wan was at his side. Bailee had stayed back at Sandy's because she was still tired. They had already been walking quite a distance when Ki-Dra stopped and Qui-Gon picked up his pace to reach they boy.
"He went in there." Ki-Dra said pointing to a cliff up ahead of them. The cliff was several meters high and had a huge crack in it down the center.
Sandy gasped. "How could that be?! How would he know about this?"
Obi-Wan came up in front of them. "Is that something important?" He asked studying the cliff face.
"Yes." Sandy walked swiftly up to the cliff with everyone following close behind. She inspected the crack, which was big enough for almost any person to fit through. "It's a secret entrance to the mining section of the city. All other entrances are through the water. You follow the crack to about halfway into the cliff and there is a turbolift that will take you to the section there. Only the people mining and a few people working on the CALSI project knew about this. I don't get how…" She shook her head. "I hate to *think* of how he found out about this."
"Qui-Gon," Came Obi-Wan's worried voice. "Wouldn't that mean he could be around here?"
"Possibly Padawan. We must be careful." Qui-Gon studied the area. Although it looked like nothing was around, there was tension in the air. He turned to Sandy and Ki-Dra. "Obi-Wan and I should have a look in there quickly. We may need to use this entrance in the future."
"You'll have to make it quick." She turned and looked up towards the sun. "High tide is all ready coming in and the crack will fill with water."
Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan and gestured to the crack. "You first."
While walking through the crack Qui-Gon never took his eyes off his Padawan. Obi-Wan's face of determination was like nothing he had ever seen. He really cared for Z and Qui-Gon knew the young boy would do anything to make sure she was safe.
About half way through the crack Qui-Gon heard water. "Obi-Wan," Qui- Gon called as he felt water hit his boot. "We've got to get back before high tide comes in."
He heard a sigh as the reply, but Obi-Wan turned around. They made their way back and when the sunlight came into view and warmed Qui- Gon's cold cheeks Qui-Gon turned toward a frowning Obi-Wan.
"We'll go back as soon as low tide comes." Qui-Gon reassured him.
"But we were so close." Obi-Wan said. He turned around and stared back into the cliff. "Master, Z is in there. I could feel her. Garmandi has her in the city."
Qui-Gon put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "We won't leave without her. You have my word on it."
*****
Obi-Wan watched Ki-Dra jump into a wave and then peered out over the ocean. Zae-Non was down there somewhere. If only Qui-Gon had gone a little further! He could have gotten to her. Obi-Wan felt anger well up inside of him. He took a deep breath and let it out to the warm afternoon air.
Words could not describe how he felt. Obi-Wan could barely understand his feelings himself. He knew it was how Qui-Gon must have felt when Tahl was missing. Of course his actions were out of love. Obi-Wan didn't know what he had with Z. From the first time she smiled at him there was a bond between them…
*Something in the Force*
Obi-Wan went over to his Master, but stopped a couple steps in front of him.
Instinctively Obi-Wan whirled around just in time to deflect blaster fire coming from a probe droid behind him and sliced it in half. Obi- Wan heard Qui-Gon ignite his lightsaber and he too brought a droid slamming to the sand.
Obi-Wan saw the last droid turning towards Ki-Dra. Obi-Wan deflected the blaster fire from the terrified kid as Qui-Gon got him out of the way.
The droid didn't pick up Qui-Gon's fast movement to get Ki-Dra away from harm and was now scanning the area for the missing boy. Obi-Wan flipped over the droid and in mid-air sliced it in half. After landing he took off after Sandy, Qui-Gon and Ki-Dra who had sprinted off down the beach.
Once they reached Sandy's house Qui-Gon made sure no droids had followed them. Sandy went inside and went up the stairs to the main floor.
"Bailee." She called out. "You'll never guess-" She stopped at the top step and put down Ki-Dra, who she was carrying. "Bails?" She leapt up onto the floor and dashed around the corner to Bailee's room.
Obi-Wan dashed up the steps after Qui-Gon and looked around the destroyed room. Bailee's blaster lay in the middle of the room. In the kitchen, the table was broken and a chair was shattered in little pieces all over the floor.
Sandy came in and sat in one of the remaining chairs. "Brice has her! I can't believe this!"
"Obi-Wan looked around. "Are you sure it's Brice?"
Sandy reached out a placed a piece of paper in his hand.
Sandy-
It's been a while hasn't it. Hope little Ki-Dra is ok. Sorry about the mess and Bailee is with me, but do yourself a favor and don't send those two Jedi with you after her. It wouldn't be safe for yourself and Ki-Dra. And Bailee.
Brice
Qui-Gon looked around. "There is no doubt there was a fight here of some sort that took place. Is there any way out of the house besides downstairs?"
Sandy nodded. "There's a trap door in the attic leading to the roof." She motioned for them to follow her.
On the roof Obi-Wan scanned the area. "We should check for footprints." He looked up towards the sun. "If there's nothing here, then he must have left by the downstairs."
After an hour of searching and finding nothing Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon went outside in the front to check for clues there, while Sandy stayed inside and started to clean her ripped up house.
Obi-Wan looked at every pebble and grain of sand. He cut the ground into sections to look at, just like he was taught at the Temple. After about two hours Obi-Wan stumbled across something. "Master." Obi-Wan called. "Over here." He pointed to two scorch marks in the sand. "Here and here. They indicate that whoever it was, was heading towards the ocean."
"Very good Padawan." Qui-Gon admonished. "Well, we now know Brice since it obviously was him is down in the city most likely. Sandy said the next low tide is later tonight. We shall go down there then."
Just then Sandy came out into the alley. "You two hungry?"
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes." Obi-Wan said. He was starving.
Before going in, Obi-Wan turned towards the ocean. A light breeze ruffled his hair as he heard the distant sound of the waves crashing onto the sand.
Tonight he'd see Z again. And he wasn't leaving without her.
2 Brief Thoughts
The Jedi stood in the night, staring out across the ocean. She could barely see the light of the distant underwater city. Waves gently swirled around her steel tipped boots and shifted the sand beneath them. An ocean made her eye water and a sent a chill up her spine. Sage pulled her cloak tight around her.
While the other Jedi fitfully slept, she had slipped away. Draw to the ocean that separated her from her future apprentice. Somewhere out there Zae-Non was a prisoner of an insane Jedi Master gone rouge. A fate Sage wouldn't wish on her worst enemies.
It didn't seem possible that this could have happened. Z had just been returned with after all these years. Without Mik, thanks to Garmandi.
Sage bowed her head. Absently she studied her boots, steel tip boots at that. A faint grin crossed her face as she recalled how Mik had constantly teased her about them. Her mind continued to drift back.
Back sixteen years when she and Mik were still together. Together and close. Like Obi-Wan and Z.
She closed her eyes. She knew how helpless Obi-Wan felt. She had been on the next rescue team when Mik requested… no… demanded that no more teams be sent. She would not let Obi-Wan go through what she had. He would not feel that sence of loss.
She reached out across the vast space with the Force. Despretly searching. She could feel the fringed of a bond struggling to form, but it wasn't totally there. Wasn't nearly strong enough.
Sage turned her back on the rushing waves and began to walk back to Sandy's house. She had to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow they would get Z.
2.1.1.1.1 Extra Help
"So now you believe Brice has Bailee." Mace's voice drifted through Qui- Gon's comlink. Qui-Gon had told him everything about what had happened since they arrived on Avalin. "I agree with you Qui-Gon. There may very well be more than we know."
"Obi-Wan believes Ona brought Zae-Non here for a reason. I believe he is right and that her bringing Z here has something to do with Ona's other job dealing with Bailee."
There was a long pause on the opposite end before Mace spoke. "There is much more to this and if all you are saying is true this mission may become dangerous. I know you will not favor this Qui-Gon, but I'm sending another knight to Avalin to help you and Obi-Wan."
Qui-Gon shook his head. "Mace, I really don't think that is necessary."
"It's too late. She's already there."
Qui-Gon groaned inside.
*So much for stopping them before they leave.*
Qui-Gon let out a deliberate sigh. "*She* is?"
"Yes, she should be arriving in Brez soon. She'll meet you on the beach and I expect you to inform her of everything you have just told me."
"I will." With a final sigh Qui-Gon cut the transmission. Why did Mace think they needed help? They could handle this. There was a reason Mace was sending her and Qui-Gon would find out sooner or later.
He got off the roof where he had called Mace from and went down into where Sandy, Obi-Wan and Ki-Dra were.
Sandy leaned up against the wall in thought, as Obi-Wan was walking around the room with Ki-Dra hanging off his neck. Obi-Wan's red face turned toward Qui-Gon as he entered.
"Obi-Wan I need to talk with you for a second." Obi-Wan put down Ki-Dra and took a deep breath of air. Apparently the boy had been choking him somewhat. He walked over massaging his neck. Qui-Gon told him about his conversation with Mace.
"So you're going to meet her?" He asked looking down at Ki-Dra who wanted another piggy-back ride.
"Yes, I'll be back in a little while." Qui-Gon started down the stairs.
Obi-Wan called down to him. "Do you even know who it is?"
Qui-Gon didn't turn around, but shook his head. "I'll be finding out shortly."
~~~
"I thought you'd come and meet me." Came a familiar voice from behind Qui- Gon.
He opened his eyes and got off the rock he was sitting on. He had been meditating and had completely lost track of time. He hadn't even noticed the sun had gone down.
"Why do you say that?" He responded. "You didn't *know* I would? I'd expect better from you Sage."
"I may not be able to see your face, but I know you're smirking." She warned.
Qui-Gon walked up next to her and they turned towards the small town behind them. They didn't go three step when simultaneously they spun around and brought their lightsabers down onto a probe droid behind them.
"What was that all about?" Sage said clipping her saber back onto her belt.
Qui-Gon sighed. "Better get used to that. Garmandi doesn't want to miss a thing we're doing."
As they walked towards Sandy's, Qui-Gon explained everything to Sage from Ki-Dra to the CALSI project to Obi-Wan's hypothesis.
After he finished she stared out in front of her.
"You've got a question." She said.
"How do you know I've got a question?" Qui-Gon asked. She turned towards him and her gaze made him give in. "Alright. Mace sent you here for a reason." She nodded. "He didn't quite explain that."
It wasn't a question, but Sage got the point.
"Well if I'm to take Zae-Non as my Padawan I'd like her to be alive wouldn't I?" She smiled. "When I was watching her the other day in the different activities I saw much more than her great skill. I saw her strong will, her persistence, and most of all, her determination to show her best."
The two didn't talk until they reached Sandy's. Outside the door Sage turned to Qui-Gon. "My turn to ask a question. How is Obi-Wan taking all this?"
Qui-Gon reached to open the door and froze. "He's strong."
Sage smiled and went in. "I pay more attention than people think. I saw what the two have."
He sighed, "I just hope he doesn't have to go through what I did."
Sage gesture for Qui-Gon to go up the stairs first and put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get Z back tonight." She said firmly.
Sandy sat in a chair while Obi-Wan was still in the middle of the room with Ki-Dra. Sandy leapt up as she saw Qui-Gon come up the stairs. "I'm so glad you're back! Obi-Wan saw another one of those probe droids go by the window."
Qui-Gon looked out past Sandy to Obi-Wan. "We won't have to worry about that one." He continued into the room and Sage followed. "Obi-Wan, Sandy this is Sage. She'll be going with us tonight."
Obi-Wan bowed as he recognized Sage as one of the two Master who had watched Z in all her events.
"Speaking of going," Sandy said. "You had better leave if you're going to beat low tide. It comes and leaves quickly."
*****
Obi-Wan shivered in the cool night breeze. All that could be heard were the crashing waves and the sound of the three Jedi's feet padding softly against the sand. No one spoke as there was an unease in the air and everyone was on high alert.
Garmandi was near.
Obi-Wan peered out in front of him. As the cliff side came into view so did Garmandi. He stood in fighting stance, lightsaber drawn waiting for the three Jedi.
"Obi-Wan you go with Sage after Garmandi and I'll catch up with you."
Obi-Wan nodded and jogged up next to Sage. They ignited their lightsabers and made their way towards the Master standing before them. To Obi-Wan's surprise Garmandi turned around and charged towards the cliff. He Force leapt up onto the top of the high cliff.
Obi-Wan stopped. "I can't make that." He said exasperatedly.
Sage skidded to a stop next to him. "Yes you can." She gave him a small smile.
Obi-Wan stepped back a few feet and sprinted towards the cliff as fast as he could go. He gathered the Force around him and leapt. He felt an extra push a he flew upwards. Sage was pushing him up the cliff face.
Obi-Wan landed and stared out at Garmandi. Sage landed next to him and made her way towards him. Obi-Wan followed, but before he new it he found himself embraced in an all to familiar notion of darkness.
As Obi-Wan was falling towards the water hundreds of meters below he blanketed himself in the Force to slow his decent. The impact to the water would hurt him…
Or kill him if he didn't slow down enough...
I luv being evil. It's definitely something I do very well. Don't worry I wont make ya wait a week… (see I can be nice… at times) PLEASE REVIEW!!! U know how I feel bout that…
Peace Out